Agenda and minutes

The Chair will ask the Committee Administrator to draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 7

The Senior Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure

A Vice Chair was not required

There was an apology for absence from Councillor Bryan Organ whose substitute was Councillor Brian Webber

At this point in the meeting, declarations of interest are received from Members on any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number and site in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or other interest (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Rob Appleyard declared an interest in the planning application at the MoD site, Foxhill, Combe Down, Bath (Item 5, Report 9) as a Director of Curo (the applicants). He would therefore leave the meeting for its consideration.

There were no items of urgent business. However, at the Chair’s request, the meeting held a minute’s silence for those who died in the recent accident involving a runaway lorry in Lansdown Lane, Weston, Bath.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer stated that (1) notice had been given of a statement to be made by the Bath Preservation Trust relating to cumulative impact in the World Heritage Site which would be heard shortly; and (2) various people had registered to speak on planning applications and that they would be able to do so when reaching their respective items in Report 9.

Caroline Kay, Chief Executive of the Trust, read out her statement which the Committee noted. The Chair stated that Officers would respond to the statement in due course.

There was none

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 14^th January 2015

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 14^th January 2015 were approved as a correct record and were signed by the Chair

The Committee considered

·  A report by the Group Manager – Development Management on various applications for planning permission etc.

·  An Update report by the Group Manager on Item Nos. 3-6, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc. on Item Nos. 1-7 and 9, a copy of the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 2 to these Minutes

RESOLVED that, in accordance with their delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the Decisions List attached as Appendix 3 to these Minutes

Item 1 Pinesgate, Lower Bristol Road, Bath – Erection of an office building (Use Class B1) with basement parking, associated infrastructure and landscaping following demolition of existing office building – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to (A) authorise the Group Manager, in consultation with the Planning and Environmental Law Manager, to enter into a S106 Agreement for various provisions; and (B) on completion of the above Agreement, grant permission subject to conditions. She referred to the sample panels of facing materials which had been the subject of a Technical Briefing for Members and which were now on display at this meeting. The Panel numbered 2 was preferred by the applicants and was recommended by Officers.

The public speakers made their statements against and in favour of the proposals. The Ward Councillor Ben Stevens made a statement on the benefits of the scheme.

The Ward Member on the Committee, Councillor Ian Gilchrist, supported the scheme and moved the Officer recommendation with the recommended sample panel numbered 2 which was seconded by Councillor Rob Appleyard.

Members debated the motion. Councillor Les Kew considered that the details of windows and doors and the proposed facing materials that had a similar hue to Bath stone were now acceptable. However, there should be a condition that a large sample panel of the facing material should remain on site until completion of the work. Councillor Manda Rigby, with some other Members, did not feel that the facing material was acceptable and would not support the motion. Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones agreed with Councillor Kew that the facing material was acceptable. However, there was some doubt concerning the weathering process and he felt that a condition should be added for a 10 year monitoring of the facing materials to maintain its appearance. There should also be a condition to make the building gull proof. Some Members agreed with these proposed amendments. The Group Manager advised that a 10 year survey would not be reasonable but gull proofing could be added as a condition. The mover and seconder agreed to amend the motion accordingly. The matter of the large sample panel was covered in the recommended Condition 3 and could be delegated to Officers to ensure it was in accord with the small panel provided by the applicants. Councillor Brian Webber was content with the proposed materials but expressed concern about the height of the building. He  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.

To consider a recommendation to confirm this Tree Preservation Order without modification

The Committee considered (1) a report by the Senior Arboricultural Officer on an objection received to a Tree Preservation Order made on 23^rd September 2014 on a Silver Birch in the front garden of the above property, which tree made a contribution to the landscape and visual amenity of the Conservation Area; and (2) an oral statement by the son-in-law of the owner against the Order.

The Senior Arboricultural Officer gave a presentation on the matter. Members considered the recommendation to confirm the Order without modification. Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones (Ward Member on the Committee) felt that the tree was out of proportion to the garden and house and therefore could be reduced in size. A replacement tree would be more appropriate.

The Officer responded to various queries by Members regarding potential works to the tree or its felling and replacement by trees of a different species. The Group Manager – Development Management emphasised that this was a significant tree situated within the Conservation Area and its visual amenity made it worthy of a Tree Preservation Order. Councillor Vic Pritchard considered that the Order gave the Council control over the tree and that there would be a substantial loss of amenity if the tree was felled. He therefore moved the Officer recommendation for the Order to be confirmed without modification which was seconded by Councillor Rob Appleyard.

Members debated the motion. As there had been some discussion regarding works to trees in the Conservation Area, it was considered that it would be useful if a guidance note could be produced explaining the difference between this and works to trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order. The Senior Arboricultural Officer stated that she would circulate a Note in due course. The motion was put to the vote and was lost, 4 voting in favour and 6 against with 1 abstention.

Councillor Manda Rigby therefore moved that the Order not be confirmed which was seconded by Councillor Les Kew. The motion was put to the vote and was carried, 7 voting in favour and 3 against with 1 abstention.

To note the report

The report was noted. The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, extended his thanks to Officers on their performance during this Quarter.

The report was noted